General Map of Duchies 1:450,000, Historical Map

The general map of the duchies “Generalkarte von den Herzogthümern Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg, the Fürstenthümern Lübek and Ratzeburg, and the Free and Hanseatic Cities of Hamburg and Lübek” was designed in a scale of 1:450,000 in 1858 by Captain Franz Geerz. The historical maps are contemporary cultural witnesses of cartography and in particular reflect the political distribution of power. The historically interested user of the map can easily get a picture of the prevailing power of the country and the subsequent developments. The map representation is unusual compared to today’s cards. This mainly includes compliance with an odd scale. The reason is the conversion of rod, cubit or foot dimensions. Furthermore, the maps were mainly used for the military purposes of the respective sovereign.